Mammals
Pygmy Slow Loris
Nycticebus pygmaeus · also called pygmy slow lorises
Clinging motionless to a branch with unusually large, forward-facing eyes scanning the darkness, a pygmy slow loris moves with deliberate slowness through the forest canopy, carrying a toxic bite that places it among the very few venomous mammals on Earth.
Overview
The pygmy slow loris, Nycticebus pygmaeus, is a Vulnerable mammal native to forest habitat across Southeast Asia. Its toxic bite produced by combining saliva with an elbow gland secretion, status as the smallest slow loris species, and extraordinarily slow, deliberate movement style make it one of the most biologically unusual primates found anywhere.
Slow by design, not by weakness
The pygmy slow loris’s deliberate, unhurried movement through the trees isn’t a limitation but a genuine survival strategy, letting it avoid detection by predators that would otherwise notice the sudden motion of a faster-moving animal.
Status
Vulnerable, with a declining population threatened by habitat loss and collection for the illegal pet trade and traditional medicine.
Pygmy Slow Loris: common questions
Is the pygmy slow loris really venomous?
Yes, it produces a toxic bite by combining its own saliva with a secretion from a gland near its elbow, making it one of the few venomous mammal species in the world.
How does the pygmy slow loris compare in size to other slow lorises?
It is the smallest of the slow loris species, noticeably more compact than its larger relatives found elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Why does the pygmy slow loris move so slowly?
It relies on extremely slow, deliberate movements as a stealth strategy, avoiding detection by predators rather than depending on speed to escape danger.
Why is the pygmy slow loris vulnerable?
Its population is declining due to habitat loss combined with collection for the illegal pet trade and traditional medicine, both significant ongoing pressures.